Peony Celebration
May 9, 2024 6-9pm
The Peony is a fun, community based cocktail reception, held in the Visitor Center courtyard. If you haven’t attended, you should join us just to see the amazing tree peony garden in bloom! A fundraiser for the Friends and our projects in the Preserve, the evening features a fine art exhibit and a silent auction of floral centerpieces designed and donated by local garden clubs.
Cocktail Reception, Silent Auction & Gallery Exhibit
Honoring Keith Austin, Chris Davies & JoAnn Stern
Caretakers of the magnificent Peony Garden.
Location:
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
125 Phelps Way, Pleasantville, NY 10570
Date & TIME:
May 9, 2024 | 6-9pm, outside in the tented courtyard
Food: Cocktails, & buffet
Attire: Festive
Floral Show and Silent Auction:
Stunning floral arrangements, created by local garden clubs. All arrangements are available to bid on.
Thank you to Chappaqua Garden Club, Little Gardens of Tarrytown, Parkway Homes Parkway Gardens and Pleasantville Garden Club
Gallery Exhibit: East/West Interpretations, featuring revered Japanese artist Kiriyo Ori Kuchina and artists including, Anne Bell, Peggie Blizard, Kris Campbell, Susan Cember, Chris Ross, Bonnie Sakoff, Radu Serban and Jarvis Wilcox.
Curated by Audrey Leeds, assisted by Lisa D’Amico
How the Peonies Came to Grace our Preserve
The Peony is considered Japan’s “most noble of flowers.” Following the tragedy of September 11th, a Japanese town in Shimane Prefecture, wanted to express a gesture of healing and solidarity towards the United States. They sent the Rockefeller State Park Preserve a gift of 500 peonies. This gift was intended to promote the healing process in New York and to symbolize the blending of two cultures by placing the Japanese flowers on American soil.
The Friends initiated a major landscaping project around the gateway to the Preserve to provide a worthy site for this generous gift. Yatsuka Cho, a district in the Shimane Prefecture, graciously sent over Japanese gardeners to plant the flowers and to teach the Preserve staff how to care for them. The cost of the Gateway Preserve Project was generously underwritten by the Friends Board of Directors, the Rockefeller Family, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, and donors from surrounding communities. The result is an inviting gateway to our peaceful Preserve and exemplifies the beauty of people coming together in a time of need.
We welcome you to enjoy these magnificent flowers, which are now maintained by a dedicated group of garden volunteers and thank you for supporting the Preserve.
